The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) requests Council approval to apply for, accept, and expend grant funds for the Hermann Park Bike Network project to improve multi-modal transportation accessibility, connectivity and safety to Hermann Park.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is seeking grant applications for the funding of transportation projects within the eight-county transportation management area, which includes the City of Houston. The 2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Call for Projects will commit federal and state funds allocated to the region to implement roadway, transit, and alternative mode projects over the next 10 years. Projects selected for funding are eligible for reimbursement of up to 80% of eligible design and construction costs. TIP applications are due on October 31, 2018 and awards are anticipated to be be announced in Spring 2018.
The proposed project develops 1.73 miles (0.675 miles of off-street trails and 1.055 miles of dedicated on-street bike lanes) of hike/bike facilities through Hermann Park to safely connect to employment, residential and tourist areas that border the Park. Hermann Park is adjacent to the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and the Houston Museum District. The Park is also only about 1
mile from the Rice Management Company’s developing innovation corridor in Midtown and 2.5 miles from Downtown
Houston. Running through Hermann Park, is a portion of the 30-mile Brays Bayou Greenway and surrounding the park are twelve bus stops and three major
MetroRail stops – Rice University, Museum District, and Texas Medical
Center. Hermann Park’s location and available space gives it tremendous potential to play a major role in
connecting all of these places via bike trails and also integrate into the Houston Bike Plan adopted by Houston City Council in 2017.
HPARD is requesting grant funds in the amount of $7,181,457. The Hermann Park Conservancy will provide the required matching funds in the amount of $1,795,364. If the project is selected for TIP funding, an agreement will be brought before Council for the commitment of matching funds, cost overruns, and project maintenance.
Director's Signature:
________________________________________
Steve Wright, Director
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.